March 20, 2013, 1:30 a.m.
THE ongoing argument of Group 19 or Border League has finally found a resolution as it was announced that the Tenterfield Tigers will head back north and play Border League football in 2013.
After a Border League meeting in Goondiwindi, the proposed move was given the seal of approval and the decision has been warmly welcomed by the Tigers players, staff and committee members.
“The response from everyone has been great, really positive. Everyone was a bit apprehensive as to what was going to happen but I think everybody is looking forward to it,” club president Damian Petrie said.
They won’t have to wait very long to take the field against their new rivals. They will play in a round robin competition to be held in Wallangarra this Saturday.
“We’ll definitely be taking part, even though we have no registered players just yet,” Petrie said.
Consequently, having rescinded their place in the Group 19, all player registrations are null and void and will need to be redone before the weekend.
“We’ll have a senior team for the weekend and maybe a few extras,” Petrie said.
Border League currently operates under a system of only having an A grade competition which could leave a number of under 18s players in the dark.
“Geoff Swan will be taking over the coaching role this year and I think what he’ll do is look to those players who showed commitment in the early stages when we were struggling so we could have a few playing up from the 18s.
“Now that we’ll be playing up there it may open it up for guys who are living in Brisbane or Toowoomba to get 10 or so games a year,” he said.
Despite the positive developments, the club are still struggling for sponsorship and will take action by holding a jersey auction night at the Telegraph Hotel on Saturday at 7.30pm.
“We’re giving businesses the chance to sponsor individual jerseys, so a player could be out there running around with the sponsors over the back of their jerseys.
“It’s a great opportunity for local businesses to get some attention and recognition.
“So we’ll have the competition in Wallangarra in the morning and that night the auction at the Telegraph, so it will be a great day of footy,” he said.
Despite leaving the competition to play in a separate state, Petrie said the NSW Country Rugby League and Group 19 have been really excellent in their response.
“There’s been no ill feeling from them; it’s a bit hard to explain to them the situation.
“Along with Tweed Heads, we’re the only other team to play in Queensland but we were one of the founding clubs in the Border League so it makes sense,” he said.
It’s been a good month for Border League president Casey O’Connor who has seen the inclusion of two Goondiwindi sides as well as Tenterfield and also the return of former Brisbane Broncos player Nick Parfitt who will don the jersey for Killarney this year.
“It will be great to see the Tigers back in the fold after a two-year absence, O’Connors said.
“It now gives the Border League an eight team competition, which I’m personally delighted about.”
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